Famous Hatchery 'Pure Bred' Appearances

[HuffleClaw]

He's too cute to criticize like that

Haha so hatchery? It’s totally fine if he is I’ll love him just the same!

 

[Kiki]

Okay... hold now, let's clarify what you mean by pure bred birds, so that there isn't some misinformation being put forth.

I like the thread idea, but I think this idea that hatcheries don't sell purebreds is not correct in most/many cases (I'm sure there are some hatcheries out there that have some stock that are less that pure though).

Birds can be pure bred, but stray from the standard of perfection.

But your supposition seems to be that because a bird does not closely match the SOP and/or does not match as closely as the best of the best stock of exhibition breeders, then anything less are not pure breds???

This is not true, it's just that hatcheries simply make no effort to cull in the same way that exhibitions breeders do.... and if they did they would likely not be profitable and would be out of business.

That is not to say that some hatcheries do have some polluted genetics in their breeding stock, and that backyard chicken keepers should be aware of this and purchase from the hatcheries that provide good quality birds, or purchase from an exhibition breeder if they are looking for something close to the SOP.

But this idea of: "Lets take and average bird and compare it to the best of the best, and poo-poo on commercial hatcheries and suggest that they all offer birds that are not purebred perpetuates a bit of a falsehood as far as what hatcheries are really about.

If anyone thinks that hatcheries are going to be producing or should produce the "best of the best" with in any breed, then that is likely just not in line with the reality of poultry production when comparing the two ends of the the spectrum: exhibition breeders and hatcheries.

Still it is nice to look at the pictures of the "best of the best" in each breed, such as this Leghorn pic taken from the book "The Magnificent Chicken: Portraits of the Fairest Fowl".... "Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds" also has some great pics of outstanding specimens.

But let's do so with the understanding of the truth of what we are comparing. Carry on... and my apologies for any distraction this posts creates.

I like your picture idea Hackle but...

THIS is a good post.

You can't just call out all hatcheries.

You should be more specific.

 

[Kiki]

I think it would be neat to have articles discussing the SOP for different breeds.

This is kinda what the "review" section is for now, isn't it?

 

[Kiki]

Utterly incredible
I don't know who owns them, but if he ever were to come on here and claim the birds as his, I would pay him anything to get chicks from him

Where are you getting these pictures from?

Some people get mad when their pictures are used without permission.

And sometimes it will get some in big trouble.

 

[lena_]

Great thread idea @BlackHackle! It's definitely interesting to see the perfect, SQ birds, next to the less than perfect hatchery birds.

However, I do think that hatcheries are a convenient way for people with no interest in showing to enjoy the wonders of owning chickens. Many simply don't want to invest a whole lot of money into birds that they are never are going to show.

I'm not calling you out or anything. I myself do my best to invest in quality birds, and it pays off.

Great thread, thoroughly enjoying it

 

[cmom]

So is the difference due to bad lineage and hatcheries not caring/breeding to standards?

I am truly curious why

The hatcheries are to make money on selling mainly day old chicks. They do not pick out their breeding flocks. It's just one big flock (flock breeding).
Here is a sample of hatchery breeding.

 

[townchicks]

Loving this thread. There is a place for shows and show breeders to keep the heritage breeds with us. There is also a place for hatchery birds, and barnyard mixes. We all want different things from different types of birds. I, for one, will never breed birds, as I can't have roos here, but I love seeing what the breeds should look like. I already know mine are NOT show quality,lol.

 

[ShellyBlanco]

Why of course they are

Rhode Island Reds:
View attachment 1518936 View attachment 1518937

What they should look like:
View attachment 1518938 View attachment 1518939

Wow! We must really be getting some mutts!?

 

[BlackHackle]

Haha so hatchery? It’s totally fine if he is I’ll love him just the same!

He's a great bird

 

[lena_]

He's a great bird

I agree, he is an adorable boy